First Plymouth Food Expo a "shop window" for local produce
Local food producers and buyers flocked to the first ever Food Plymouth Expo on 27 March, at the Guildhall, which hosted over 60 food producers and support organisations including; fresh fish, meat, pasties, fruit and veg, along with a range of other innovative and tasty local food products. It was attended by local restaurants and hotels, along with other key food buyers from within the city, including those from Plymouth’s schools, colleges and University.
Council Leader Tudor Evans who opened the show announced:
"The Food Expo is a great new initiative for Plymouth, bringing together our best local producers with some of the city’s most influential buyers. Local food is great for our economy; it reduces food miles, and builds on Plymouth’s growing reputation as a good food destination. Plymouth City Council is proud to be supporting this event and the DEAL programme.”
The new Expo was organised by Food Plymouth, a city wide partnership of private, public and third sector organisations, to support the aims of the Plymouth Food Charter and Action Plan, promoting a cooperative and resilient local economy for a more healthy and sustainable city.
Devon Contract waste ensured it was the first ’zero to landfill’ event to be held at the Guildhall, with all food waste 100% recycled at Langage Farm, who also donated three delicious food hampers as prizes for the three best exhibition stands. These were judged by Tudor Evans and presented to Tamar View Fruiterers, Grumpies Pies and Gribbles Butchers.
Organiser Traci Lewis said:
"It was a great day, which provided an excellent shop window and meeting place for a whole range of quality local food businesses and buyers. This was the first ever Food Plymouth Expo, and we hope it will be the first of many, in recognition of Plymouth’s growing role as a good food destination and hub for the region’s quality produce."
The event marked the official launch of the new ‘DEAL’ programme to support the delivery of the economic aims of the Sustainable Food City Plymouth Action Plan, which was launched at the Guildhall this time last year. ‘DEAL’ is a new EU Interreg funded partnership programme between ten French and English organisations to support the economic development of local food. The new programme is coordinated locally by the Soil Association, on behalf of Food Plymouth, and supported by Plymouth City Council, City Centre Company and Plymouth University.
Simon Denham, Head of Procurement and Sustainability at Plymouth University said: “As one of the greenest and most sustainability-minded higher education institutions in the world, Plymouth University is backing the DEAL programme and the commitment to locally-sourced food. By working together in partnership across the city, we have the chance to put Plymouth on the map as one of the UK’s most sustainable food cities, one founded on fair trade and providing opportunities for its local growers and suppliers.”
For pictures visit the Food Plymouth Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/foodplymouth
